Low profile walking machine and method of operation

A walking machine for moving a load over the ground comprising:

• a substructure having laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying the load above the ground;
• a first lifting assembly mounted on a first end of each main beam;
• a second lifting assembly mounted on the opposite or second end of each main beam;
• wherein each lifting assembly includes a pair of hydraulic power-driven cylinders each with an extendable/retractable rod connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, the power-driven cylinders being selectively operable for extending their rods to push the plunger elements downwardly to force the foot plates against the ground to raise the main beams and substructure off the ground, and for retracting their rods to pull the plunger elements upwardly to disengage the foot plates from the ground to lower the main beams and substructure;
• wherein the power-driven cylinders on the first lifting assemblies are diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on each main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the first ends of those main beams;
• wherein the power-driven cylinders on the second lifting assemblies are diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on each main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the second ends of those beams;
• a first shifter mechanism mounted on each first lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction;
• a second shifter mechanism mounted on each second lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction;
• and
• wherein the first and second shifter mechanisms operate to extend and retract in opposition to one another to displace the main beams and the substructure along the ground in a selected direction when the first and second lifting assemblies have raised the main beams and the substructure off the ground.

A lifting mechanism for use on a walking machine having a substructure and laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying and moving a load above the ground comprising:

• a lifting assembly adapted for mounting on one of the main beams including a pair of hydraulic power-driven cylinders each with an extendable/retractable rod connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, each of the power-driven cylinders being selectively operable for extending their rods to push the plunger elements downwardly and for retracting their rods to pull the plunger elements upwardly;
• wherein each of the power-driven cylinders is adapted to be diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on a main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the end of a main beam;
• and
• a shifter mechanism mounted on the assembly selectively operable to extend and retract the foot plate relative to the plunger element.

A method for moving a load over the ground comprising:

• supporting the load above the ground on a substructure carried by a pair of spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams;
• providing a first lifting assembly on a first end of each main beam and a second lifting assembly on the second end of each main beam;
• actuating the first and second lifting assemblies so that their foot plates are raised above the ground and the main beams engage the ground and support the substructure thereby;
• extending a shifter mechanism on each first lifting assembly to displace their foot plates in the intended direction of travel and retracting a shifter mechanism on each second lifting assembly to displace their foot plates in the intended direction of travel, thereafter maintaining the foot plates stationary;
• actuating power-driven cylinders on each lifting assembly to urge the foot plates against the ground and raise the main beams and substructure above the ground to be supported on the foot plates;
• and
• retracting the shifter mechanism on each first lifting assembly and simultaneously extending the shifter mechanism on each second lifting assembly to displace the main beams and substructure in the direction of travel.